Johann Sebastian Bach:Six Keyboard Partitas, BWV 825-830

disc 1

Partita No. 1 in B flat major, BWV 8251 I. Praeludium 2:292 II. Allemande 1:483 III. Courante 1:394 IV. Sarabande 3:245 V. Menuet I 1:226 VI. Menuet II 0:437 VII. Gigue 1:11

Partita No. 3 in A minor, BWV 8278 I. Fantasia 2:159 II. Allemande 2:36

10 III. Courante 1:5311 IV. Sarabande 2:2012 V. Burlesca 2:3313 VI. Scherzo 0:4314 VII. Gigue 1:45

Partita No. 4 in D major, BWV 82815 I. Ouverture 6:4916 II. Allemande 6:2517 III. Courante 2:0818 IV. Aria 2:5019 V. Sarabande 3:5220 VI. Menuet 1:3621 VII. Gigue 2:21

total playing time: 52:51

Diana Boyle, piano

disc 2

Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 8261 I. Sinfonia 5:372 II. Allemande 2:333 III. Courante 1:304 IV. Sarabande 2:545 V. Rondeau 1:486 VI. Capriccio 2:15

Partita No. 5 in G major, BWV 8297 I. Praeambulum 2:298 II. Allemande 2:489 III. Corrente 1:06

10 IV. Sarabande 2:3911 V. Tempo di Minuetta 1:1712 VI. Passepied 1:2113 VII. Gigue 2:25

Partita No. 6 in E minor, BWV 83014 I. Toccata 7:3415 II. Allemande 2:1816 III. Corrente 2:4717 IV. Air 1:2918 V. Sarabande 4:4919 VI. Tempo di Gavotta 1:1020 VII. Gigue 3:36

total playing time: 54:34

Johann Sebastian Bach: The Six Keyboard Partitas

J.S. Bach (1685-1750) brought out his six keyboard Partitas in 1731 under thetitle Clavier-Ubung. This was the first work that he published himself, and he hadissued one each year from 1726 onwards. Clavier-Ubung or Keyboard Practice shouldnot be understood only in the pedagogic sense as a work for students' practice,but rather in the musical sense as a composition for keyboard.

Bach's son Wilhelm Friedmann once remarked that galanteries such as themovements of these Partitas are neither "objectively mathematical" nor simply"playful" music. They are to be brought to life by the performer "as an innatelymusical person who has it in him through a plastic, cantabile style".

Bach demands an extraordinarily elastic and expressive touch, yet gives fewdirections in this respect, since the many degrees and styles of legato and staccatothat he envisaged could barely be represented by mere graphic symbols. Theperformer therefore has to sense "the finest and best ideas" from the internalevidence of the music itself.

The rendering of these Partitas also demands a deep feeling for Bach'spolyphonic musical language in melody and form; an understanding that theornaments must be executed as a living expression of the delicate inneremotional agitation of the melody, and above all, that the awakening to life ofBach's music carries infinite possibilities for "pleasurable diversion'

J.B.

The Pianist

Diana Boyle was born in London and educated at St Paul's Girls School.She won a Foundation Scholarship to the Royal College of Music at the ageof 15, and continued her studies under Enrique Barenboim in Tel Aviv. In1973 she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study with Artur Balsam inNew York. Balsam's profound musical insight into the classical and chambermusic repertoire, together with his friendship and encouragement until hisdeath in 1994, proved to be the pivotal influence on Diana's musical life.

After making her London recital debut in 1979, Diana gave concerts in theUSA, Canada, Spain, Portugal and England. She also taught piano andchamber music in London and at summer chamber music courses in theUSA.

In 1987, she was invited to make a series of recordings for National PublicRadio in Boston. This included the Bach Partitas, late Schubert Sonatas andBeethoven's Diabelli Variations. The Beethoven recording was originallyreleased on CD by Centaur Records USA in 1989 and is now on Divine Artas a digital only release.

In 1990 Diana returned to the Bach Partitas, recording this time at FordeAbbey, England. This programme of late Brahms piano works followed andin 1997-8 Diana recorded Book 2 of Bach’s Well Tempered Clavier (released byMétier, in 2000). Bach’s Goldberg Variations were recorded in 2003 though notreleased until 2017, and in 2007 Diana recorded the Art of Fugue (issued by

Divine Art in 2011). This was followed by a double album of Mozart PianoSonatas (Divine Art, 2016).

Diana has a fascination for the recording process: The years of preparation,followed by intense recording sessions and many months of score markingand making all editorial decisions. She has been able to think about musicwith deep concentration and in privacy for twenty five years.

Enormous thanks must go to Brad Michel, her sound engineer for all therecordings. Brad has been the most loyal and patient of colleagues,contributing hugely with his exceptional technical skills and acute ear for thetiniest differentials during recording and editing.

In 2001 Diana moved from London to a quiet hilltop in the south ofPortugal, where the quality of light, astonishing sunsets and silence haveenabled her to think about music in peace and solitude.

She is currently working on another Bach project.

More fine recordings from Diana Boylefor full details and more reviews, visit www.divineartrecords.com

Mozart: Piano Sonatasdivine art dda 21227 (2CD)available as CD and digital

“Diana Boyle breathes fresh life into these sonatas…always supremely musical… this pianist’s phrasing, use ofdynamics and varied tempi revealing so any lovely facets.”– Bruce Reader (The Classical Reviewer)

J.S. Bach: The Art of Fuguedivine art dda 25097 (2CD priced as 1)available as CD and digital

“A supreme masterpiece and here is given a brilliantand individual interpretation, in which Diana brings outclassical-style emphasis and phrasing.”– Jagan Nath Khalsa

J.S. Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book IImétier msvcd 2002 (2CD)available as CD and digital

“As a Bach player Diana Boyle is at once fastidious and afree spirit. Everything is newly invented, and cracklingwith intellectual energy.” - Paul Driver (The Sunday Times)

New digital-only releases from Diana Boylefor full details and more reviews, visit www.divineartrecords.com

Brahms: KlavierstückeIntermezzi and Capricciosdivine art zda 50501digital only(release date 13 January 2017)

Beethoven: Diabelli Variationsdivine art zda 50502digital only(release date 13 January 2017)

J.S. Bach: The Goldberg Variationsdivine art zda 50503digital only(release date 13 January 2017)

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